From a series of pictures taken during the early 2000s, Charbonneau Commission witness and former FTQ-Construction president Jean Lavallée is flanked by construction magnate Tony Accurso, left, and former city of Montreal general manager Robert Abdallah in a hotel pool.Charbonneau Commission via The Gazette
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In a series of pictures taken in the early 2000s, current Charbonneau Commission witness and former FTQ-Construction president Jean Lavallée (right) is seen in a variety of tropical settings accompanied by former city of Montreal general manager Robert Abdallah. While Abdallah had not yet been named to the powerful municipal position when the shots were taken, he was – at the time – a high-ranking executive at Hydro-Québec.
/ Charbonneau Commission via THE GAZETTE

In a series of pictures taken in the early 2000s, current Charbonneau Commission witness and former FTQ-Construction president Jean Lavallée (left) is seen in a variety of tropical settings accompanied by construction magnate Tony Accurso (center) and an unidentified third man.
/ Charbonneau Commission via THE GAZETTE

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MONTREAL — After several days spent listening to barely audible wiretap recordings, the Charbonneau Commission apparently decided on Wednesday that a picture was worth a thousand words.

It wasn't the first time the inquiry had seen photographic proof of the close friendship between former FTQ-Construction president Jean Lavallée and entrepreneur Tony Accurso (a shot of the two frolicking in the ocean was shown on Monday, for instance), but the sheer volume of images entered into evidence during Lavallée's fourth day on the stand was staggering.

The men were pictured relaxing on the beach in the Bahamas, posing on a golf course, dining on a yacht, smoking cigars at Disneyland, fishing in an isolated river, grinning at graduations, preparing to board flights to Germany for "weight loss treatments," and splashing around in a pool. Also featured in the candid photographs were disgraced Mascouche mayor Richard Marcotte, former FTQ president Henri Massé and former Montreal city-manager Robert Abdallah.

While Abdallah had not yet been named to the powerful municipal position when the pictures were taken in 2002, he was, at the time, a high-ranking executive at Hydro-Québec.

Lavallée confirmed Wednesday that Accurso picked up the tab for the myriad vacations, for both Lavallée and other members of his family. He wouldn't speculate about the other travellers, however.

Border records obtained by the inquiry indicate that Accurso and Lavallée travelled together internationally 27 times between 2001 and 2010. Lavallée has acknowledged that he vacationed on Accurso's yacht, The Touch, five or six times — and that he was present for the luxury vessel's maiden voyage.

"He's like a brother to me," the witness said of Accurso. "I was at his daughter's wedding. I was at his wedding."

Despite the serious nature of the alleged ties between the union leader and the construction boss, there were a few moments of levity on Wednesday. At one point, when asked to describe the weight-loss treatments they experienced in Germany, Lavallée replied: "Water. Water, water, lots of water. I lost 25 pounds!"

Lavallée repeated again and again that the vacations were simply trips taken with a longtime friend, although he admitted he never treated Accurso to any free getaways.

While acknowledging that the men often talked about the construction industry while soaking up the sun, Lavallée argued that Accurso's business acumen netted $100-million in profits for the union's Solidarity Fund.

Other witnesses at the inquiry have alleged that Accurso had special access to the fund, mainly because Lavallée sat on the board of directors.

Accurso is now facing a series of fraud charges in connection with an investigation into alleged corruption at Montreal's city hall.

Abdallah, for his part, left the city of Montreal in 2006, two years before his contract was scheduled to wrap up. He never explained why he stepped down.

Later in the day Wednesday, Lavallée addressed the Solidarity Fund's ties to businessman Denis Vincent, who has been linked by other witnesses to the Hells Angels.

"He's not a bum," the witness said of Vincent, who appeared in pictures taken on a fishing trip with Accurso and Lavallée.

"He's known as a serious businessman ... he's not with the Hells, I swear to you."

Lavallée is expected to be on the stand until at least Thursday afternoon.

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